The federal court approved an expansion of Amazon’s Sept. 2025, $2.5 billion settlement with the FTC, raising the per-person payment cap from $51 to $200. The revised order adds automatic refunds for customers who used 11–20 Prime benefits in a 12-month span, with distributions starting Oct. 1 via Venmo, PayPal, or mailed check. If required distribution thresholds aren’t met by Feb. 2027, prior recipients will receive an additional $149 in April 2027 to reach the $200 maximum.
Amazon Prime Settlement Expanded — Eligible Users Could Receive Up To $200 Automatically
Close-up of logo for Amazon Prime service on the side of a branded delivery truckCredit: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty
Amazon customers may be eligible to receive up to $200 after a court-approved expansion of the retailer’s 2025 settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The original September 2025 agreement resolved FTC allegations that Amazon enrolled millions of consumers in Prime subscriptions without their consent and made cancellations difficult. The settlement total is $2.5 billion — $1.5 billion for consumer redress and a separate $1 billion civil penalty.
What the Court Approved
This week a federal court granted a joint motion from the FTC and Amazon to broaden who will receive future payments and how those payments are distributed. The key change raised the maximum per-person payment cap from $51 to $200 and requires upcoming distributions to be made automatically, eliminating the need for individual claim filings.
Exterior of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) building in Washington, D.C.Credit: getty
Who Is Newly Eligible
Under the revised order, consumers who used between 11 and 20 Prime benefits in any one-year period will now be eligible for automatic refunds. Previously, refunds of up to $51 were limited to customers who used fewer than 10 Prime benefits during a 12-month span.
How and When Payments Will Be Sent
- Automatic payments to newly eligible consumers will begin on Oct. 1.
- Where possible, payments will be issued electronically via Venmo or PayPal; mailed checks will be used for consumers who cannot accept electronic transfers.
Follow-Up Payments If Thresholds Aren't Met
The FTC states that if the total amount of consumer-accepted payments does not meet the settlement’s required distribution threshold by Feb. 2027, Amazon will make additional automatic payments to consumers who already received refunds. Those prior recipients will be eligible for an additional $149 — bringing their total to $200 — which the order says will be issued automatically in April 2027.
Stock photo of Amazon Prime boxes and envelopes delivered to the front door of a residential building.Credit: Getty
"The revised order will ensure more consumers who were harmed by Amazon's deceptive enrollment and cancellation practices benefit from the FTC's historic settlement," said Christopher Mufarrige, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection.
How To Get More Information
Consumers who have questions about the settlement or want more information about eligibility can contact Amazon at [email protected]. The FTC reports Amazon has already issued more than $845 million in redress payments to eligible customers.
Bottom line: If you used 11–20 Prime benefits during any one-year period, watch for an automatic payment starting Oct. 1 and check Venmo, PayPal, or your mail if you think you may be eligible.
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